Belt and shirt-waist connector.



No. 697,329. I Patented Apr, 8, I902.

. J. N. CUNNINGHAM.

BELT AND SHIRT WAIST CONNECTOR.

(Application filed Aug; 6. 1901.

(No Model.)

m: nonms Penn: w..'Pucrru.|,|THo.. WASHINGTON D c UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN N. CUNNINGHAM, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BELT AND SHIRT-WAIST CONNECTOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 697,329, dated April 8,1902.

Application filed August 6, 1901. Serial No. 71,066. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN N. CUNNINGHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Belt and Shirt -Waist Connectors;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in shirt-waists of the characterdesigned especially for summer wear without coat or'vest and to meansfor holding the lower end or waistband of the waistin proper relation tothe waistband of the trousers and belt to permit of the wearing of thesuspenders on the inner side of the shirt-waist, so that the trousersmay be supported without exposing the suspenders to view.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efiective means ofthis character for connecting the waistband of the shirtwaist to thebelt in such manner that the suspenders may be worn between the waistand undergarment and the Suspender-ends buttoned to the inner face ofthe waistband of the trousers, thus obviating the necessity of wearingthe suspenders on the outside of the shirt-waist, while attaining theadvantage of supporting the trousers in the usual manner without relyingupon the belt.

A further object of the invention is to secure the additional advantageof preventing displacement of the belt and the creeping up of the skirtportion of the shirt-waist.

For afull description of the invention and the merits thereof and alsoto acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means foreffecting the result reference is to be had to the following descriptionand drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are tosome extent sus ceptible of modification, still the preferred embodimentof the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which-Figure 1 is a-front view of a shirt-waist embodying my invention,showing the means for securing the same to the belt and the manner inwhich the trousers are supported.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the shirt-waist, omit ting certain parts andshowing the belt secured thereto and buckled in position. Fig. 3 is arear view of the shirt-waist; and Fig. 4 is an inner perspective view ofa portion of the Waistband of the shirt-waist and belt, showing themanner in which the same are connected by the band or tape.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The shirt-waist 1 is of the open-front type and may be made of anysuitable material and of any desired design. It is provided with awaistband 2, adapted to overlap upon the outer side of the waistband ofthe trousers, and is preferably formed without tucks at the front, thetucks being provided solely in the back, as shown in Fig. 3, in orderthat the front may be free from folds to present a more finishedappearance. The belt 3 may also be made of any suitable material andprovided with any desired type of fastening for connecting the meetingends thereof.

Formed at intervals in the waistband 2 are openings 4, through which areadapted to pass loops 5, provided'on the belt 3.. These loops may beconstructed by cutting parallel slits in the inner ply of a two-ply beltor by stitching tapes or metallic loops to the belt, as desired. A tape,band, or cord 6 of the proper length to be passed around the waist ofthe wearer is provided, to be passed through said loops to secure thebelt to the waistband 2, and carries at each end a button 8 to engage abuttonhole 7, formed in each end of said waistband to hold said tape orband in position. By having the waistband of the shirt-waist fit downover the waistband of the trousers 9 the said waistband will beconcealed from view, and the ends of the suspenders 10 (shown in dottedlines in Fig. 1) may be buttoned directly to buttons 11, secured uponthe inner face of the Waistband of the trousers, so that the suspendersmay be worn upon the inside of the shirt-waist and will thereby beconcealed from view.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the suspenders are first put on over theundergarment and buttoned to the trousers and the shirt-waist worn overthe suspenders. The belt 3 is connected to the shirt-waist bypassingtheloops 5 through'the openings 4: and threading the tape or band 6through said loops, the ends of the band being buttoned at the front tothe waistband 2 byinserting the buttons 8 in the buttonholes 7. The endsof the belt are then connected together by the buckle or other fasteningmeans provided for the purpose. When this has been done, the waistbandsof the trousers and shirt-waist will be concealed from view, and thebelt will hold the lower end of the shirt-Waist from creeping or ridingup out of its proper position. When it is desired to launder the shirt,the belt 3 and the band 6 may be readily removed therefrom bydisengaging the buttons 8 and drawing said band endWise out of the loops5.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, mode of use of the invention will be readilyunderstood, and it will be seen that by constructing the parts in themanner stated the trousers may be supported in the usual manner from thesuspenders, while the latter are concealed from view, and that a neatand tasty finish is also secured about the waistline.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. Thecombination of a shirt-waisthaving a waistband provided with openings, abelt having loops to pass through the openings, and a band or tapeadapted to be threaded through said loops to secure the belt to thewaistband, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a shirt-Waist having a waistband provided atitsends with buttonholes and between the same with openings, a belthaving loops to project through said openings, and a band or tape to bethreaded through said loops to connect the belt to the waistband, andprovided at its ends with buttons to engage the buttonholes in thewaistband, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN N. CUNNINGHAM.

